Teachers' Leaflet. 



587 



THE DOWNY WOODPECKER. 



Preliminary work. — If a piece of beef fat be fastened upon either the trunk or 

 branch of a tree which can be seen from the schoolroom windows, there will be no 

 lack of interest in this friendly little bird; for the downy sooner or later will lind 

 this feast spread for it, and as soon as it learns that it is meant as a kindness it 

 will become very tame, and other winter birds will follow. From the first the 

 teacher should try to lead the pupils to see the marvellous adaptations of the form 

 of this little bird, which enables it to live its life successfully. 



LESSON XLVII. 



THE APPEARAXCE OF THE DOWNY. 



Purpose. — To teach the pupils to observe the downy closely. 

 Observations. — 



1. Wliat is the general color of 

 the downy above and below? 



2. What is the color of the top of 

 the head? The sides of the head? 



3. The color of the throat and 

 breast ? 



4. Color and markings of the 

 wings ? 



5. The color of the middle tail 

 feathers? Color and markings of the 

 side tail feathers? 



6. Do all downy woodpeckers 

 have the red patch on the nape, and 

 if not, why? 



7. What is the note of the 

 downy ? 



8. Does it make any other sound? 

 If so when and how? 



Facts for teacher. — The downy is black 

 speckled with white above and white or 

 whitish below. The top of the head is 

 black and there is a black streak extending 



back from the eye with a white streak above and below it. On the back of the 

 head there is a red patch on the males but not on the females. The throat and 

 breast are white, the middle tail feathers are black, the side tail feathers are white 

 barred with black at their tips. The downy has a characteristic unmusical, wood- 

 pecker note, but during- tlio breeding season the male downy is a drummer and 

 calls to his mate by beating on a dead branch with his bill, and makes a very 

 attractive kind of music. 



LESSON XLVin. 



THE HABITS OF THE DOWNY. 



Purpose. — ■ To make the pupils observe for themselves how the downy 

 gets its living. 



Friend Downy. 



